News articles are a disservice

Published 12:01 am Monday, November 23, 2009

Recent events involving our police officers show how dangerous a job they have protecting you and me. Add in a belligerent drunk, that even repeated taser jolts could not stop, who was determined to get on the road and threaten us and our children.

Add in the just plain vicious violence that permeates our society today and you have a job that is “walking a tightrope” daily. A job officers are not sure they will come home from. Our officers are courageous individuals who step up to the plate to protect you and me every day.

In the case of Officer Troy Meade, and how the recent Herald articles were written, I had to write in protest. The two Herald writers who wrote the articles presented the officer in a negative light that I feel is tragically unfair. We ask our officers to make split-second decisions involving weapons and then when they do their job, they get persecuted by our media before an investigation and trial can go forward.

This officer could not say anything to defend himself because of legalities. Our media has a duty to us all to report unbiased information, but what I read was two reporters coloring public opinion through negative reporting, potentially harming the very officer who protects them each day of his life. Shame on The Herald for printing these types of articles.

Robina Lindsay
Stanwood